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MASTERFLOW GROUTS
Recommended installation procedures for cementitious grouts

Before carrying out any grouting operations tight as is practical, to prevent grout loss. The top
consult your BASF representative for advice on of the formwork should be a minimum of 2.5cm
selection of the correct grout for your application above the underside of the base plate. For large
and installation methods. base plate pours or when the gap between base
plate and foundation concrete is less than
Foundation preparation recommended, the formwork should be higher to
Preparation of the concrete surface to which the allow a pressure head to build up.
grout will bond should be carried out before the
base plate is placed. On the pouring side, which should be the shortest
distance across the base plate, the formwork
Prepare the concrete surface using a chipping should be at least 15cm higher than the underside
hammer, grit blasting or high pressure water of the base plate. The form should be fixed with
jetting to leave a rough but clean surface free from the top sloping away from the base plate at a 45°
all forms of contamination. Bush hammering is angle, to form a slope, down which the grout can
not recommended. be poured.

Bolt pockets should be prepared and cleaned out A piece of formwork should be fixed on top of the
before the base plate is fixed. base plate as below, to allow a head of grout to
build up.
Base plate
The underside of the base plate should be free of
rust, oil or grease.

The minimum gap width between the base plate

and foundation should be 25mm for base plates
up to 1m wide, increasing by 20mm for each
additional metre of width.

For base plate pours over 1m in width or when The formwork should be fixed to allow easy
the gap width is less than the minimum stripping without causing damage or stress to the
recommended, please consult your local grout, if the formwork is to be removed when the
representative. grout is still green.

Formwork
Before fixing formwork ensure the base area and
bolt holes are clean. Formwork fitted around the
base plate to contain the grout must be as water
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MASTERFLOW GROUTS
Note: Mixing
1. If grout is to be pumped under pressure, Before mixing begins, ensure that all standing
special formwork may be required. Contact water is removed from bolt pockets and
Technical Services. surrounding areas. For small pours a drill and
2. Keep shoulders to a minimum, unless properly 100mm paddle with a speed of 400-600 RPM,
designed, they may crack. mixing in a 20-30 litre pail will be suitable. Larger
pours will require proper grout mixers or modified
Preparation for grouting drum mixers.
Before fixing the last piece of formwork, remove
all dirt and debris from within the area to be The mixing set up must be able to produce a
grouted. continuous supply of freshly mixed grout once the
Saturate the concrete within the formwork with pour starts.
water for 24 hrs prior to grouting.
Always put 90% of the mixing water into the pail
Ensure sufficient grout is available for the pour. or mixer bowl before adding the grout.
Check that mixing equipment is suitable and in
good working order. Have a back-up mixer When the mixed grout is lump free, add the
available. Ensure adequate potable water is remaining mix water.
available for mixing.
Mixing time with drill and paddle will be not less
Hot weather grouting than 3 minutes and 4-5 minutes with a drum
If grouting is to take place in the open, store bags mixer.
of grout under shade, shade the area to be
grouted, and ensure that a supply of cool or In hot weather the mixing operation should take
chilled water is available to reduce mixed grout place under shade.
temperatures to less than 32°C for best results.
Install grout in the cooler part of the day Add sufficient water to give the flow
characteristics required. In high ambient
Cold weather grouting temperatures more water will be required to offset
If the temperature of the base concrete cannot be evaporation losses.
maintained at or above 10°C whilst the grout
hydrates, consult BASF Technical Services. Placing
Fill all the bolt pockets with grout before pouring
Use warm water to bring the mixed temperature the rest of the underplate grout. Start at one end
of the grout above 10°C. of the base plate, pouring grout down the slope of
the formwork. When the grout reaches the far
If the ambient temperature will fall below 5°C after side formwork and rises above the bottom of the
placing the grout, make sure materials are base plate, move the pouring point slowly along
available to insulate the grout. the length of the base plate always ensuring that
Do not install grout at temperatures <5°C.
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MASTERFLOW GROUTS
the grout has risen up on the opposite side of the can be formed from concrete repair mortar or
base plate before moving along. Do not pour from polymer modified concrete.
different sides of the base plate as this can cause
voids. Shoulders formed from shrinkage compensated
grouts have a tendency to crack and debond. If it
Straps: is necessary to form shoulders around the
If due to the length of the pour and / or narrow grouted base plate, contact BASF Technical
gap width there is concern about the grout having Services for further advice.
adequate flow, metal or plastic straps as used for
binding crates and boxes can be placed in the It is not possible to cover all aspects of grouting in
pour so that they can be pulled back and forth to a grouting summary such as this. Our field
assist the grout flow. Be aware that if or when the service staff working with our Technical Services
straps are withdrawn this can leave small voids. Department prefer to discuss your grouting needs
or problems before the project gets underway.
Curing
As soon as the grout is placed, cover exposed Note:
edges with wet rags (cloth retains moisture more Grout is a fine concrete that in general has a
effectively than hessian) keeping them wet for 24 higher cement content than normal concrete.
hours. After 24 hrs remove the formwork.
The absolute minimum standard with regard to
After removing the formwork, brush on mixed temperatures and pouring conditions such
MASTERKURE curing membrane (2 coats), as shading etc., should be those applied to
brushing the curing membrane onto the concrete structural concrete on a well controlled site.
for at least 25 mm from the edge of the grout.
Safety precautions
Allow the curing membrane to dry, then cover the
As with all chemical products, care should be
exposed edges of grout with cloth and keep wet
taken during use and storage to avoid contact
for a minimum of 7 days.
with eyes, mouth, skin and foodstuffs (which can
also be tainted with vapour until product is fully
Note:
cured or dried). Treat splashes to skin and eyes
Wet curing is the preferred curing method, but it is
immediately. If accidentally ingested, seek
very rare for the grout to be kept wet 24 hrs a day
medical attention. Reseal containers after use.
unless very strict supervision is maintained.
For specific storage and disposal instructions refer
to the Material Safety Data Sheet.
Shoulders
Shoulders formed from high performance grout
11/94 BASF_CC-UAE revised 04/2008
should be avoided. If shoulders are required, they

Whilst any information contained herein is true, accurate and represents our best knowledge and experience, no warranty is given or implied with
any recommendations made by us, our representatives or distributors, as the conditions of use and the competence of any labour involved in the
application are beyond our control.

As all BASF technical datasheets are updated on a regular basis it is the user's responsibility to obtain the most recent issue.

BASF Construction Chemicals UAE LLC

P.O. Box 37127, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 8090800 Fax: +971 4 8851002
Certificate No. Certificate No. Certificate No.
www.basf-cc.ae e-mail: [email protected] 963680 945787 772556